“Sure to come in handy for souvenir postcards to the folks back home. Anything else?”
“Matches. And some sticky stuff that smells pretty good.”
“Show me.”
She held out a cream-colored lump. Cam nodded.
“Halvah. Candy. High in protein, high in fat. A good find. Anything else?”
“This little box. Some kind of electronic gadget.”
A flicker of light reflected in the mirror caught Cam’s attention. He watched it for a couple of seconds. Headlights, but a long way back. Asaad’s men had found them, but they still had a little time.
Salome’s gaze followed his. “Is that—is it Asaad?”
“Don’t worry about it. Let me see that gadget.” Cam took his eyes from the windshield for a quick look. “It’s a GPS. A global positioning device. Assuming it’s still got juice, we’ll be able to tell where we are.”
“And then what?”
“And then I can give the coordinates to some people who can help us.”
“How?”
“I have a cell phone.”
“A cell phone? Then, why don’t you—”
“I did. I tried earlier today but I couldn’t get a signal.”
She sat back and folded her arms over her breasts. No, not over them, exactly. It was more like under them so the gold cups lifted, made an offering of the golden skin whose honeyed essence he could still taste on his tongue.
“Damn it,” Cam said, furious at her, at himself, at the stupidity of thinking about sex at a time like this, “don’t just sit there. Climb in the back. See what else you can find. You need to put on some clothes.”
“I’m fine.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not. It’s cold in the desert at night. You go into shock, you’ll slow me down. Get in the back and come up with something.”
She gave him a look he figured might not be friendly but she got up on her knees and peered into the back of the Hummer.
It was an unfortunate move. It put her derrière within easy reach. Cam locked his eyes on the windshield. Her hip brushed his shoulder. A couple of the gold ribbons trailed across his thigh and he had a sudden image of how those ribbons would drape over his lap as he pulled her down onto him.
He kept this up, he was going to drive the freaking Hummer straight into a sand dune.
“I found something!”
So had he, but what good would it do him in a moving car? “What?”
“A rucksack. There’s stuff in it. Water. A shirt. A T-shirt. And—”
“And what?”
“And, uh, and nothing. I thought there was something but… Nope. That’s it.”
The hell it was. She was lying, but why?
“Great. Keep the shirt, toss me the T.”
She climbed back over the seat. Her thigh brushed him again. He thought of how he’d put his hand between her legs, felt the silky heat of her skin…
The Humvee swerved.
“Did you see something?”
Damned right, he’d seen something. His inability to get this all in perspective. But he understood the problem. Sexual frustration. He’d been moments from taking what he wanted, what Salome was so good at promising but not delivering, and he’d been interrupted.
What he needed, he thought coldly, was completion. That all too famous, twenty-first century word. Closure. And he’d have it—assuming he could lose the vehicles on their trail. He’d take Salome in his arms, lay her down in the sand, tear aside that damned thong and ride her until they were both exhausted.
Then he could concentrate on saving his skin and, by coincidence, hers.
“Hang on to the steering wheel.”
She leaned across him. Her hair brushed his cheek and he drew the clean scent of it deep into his lungs. Quickly he pulled the T-shirt over his head.
“Okay,” he said brusquely. “You can sit back.”
“You didn’t answer me, Cameron. Did you see something? Because I think—”
“It’s Cam,” he said sharply. “And do me a favor, okay? Don’t think. I don’t want you to tax yourself. Just put that damned shirt on and dump the rest of the stuff you found into the pack.”
Leanna glared at Cameron. At Cam. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
She pulled on the shirt, gave a little shudder and burrowed into the soft cotton. Much, much better. Not only was she warmer, she didn’t have to watch him give her looks that said she was some kind of X-rated video queen.
This man, she thought coldly, was the meanest-tempered SOB she’d ever met. Okay, maybe she’d pushed things a little, made him take off without his gun, but without her help, he might be dead.
Or they might still be in bed, she on her back and he—and he—
Leanna drew the pack closer. The feel of it was pure comfort.
Last time she’d carried a pack, she was a twelve-year-old Girl Scout. It had held a canteen, a bag of Trail Mix and a peanut butter sandwich.
Now, the pack in her arms held water and halvah and matches and a GPS…
And a gun.
An automatic. Anybody who went to the movies or watched TV would know that much. It was all she knew, but it was enough. She wasn’t defenseless anymore.
She glanced at Cam. Coldhearted bastard that he was, she had to admit he was also a gorgeous hunk of masculinity.
So what? Good looks didn’t change a thing. She didn’t trust him as far as she could throw him—which wouldn’t be far, considering how he was built.
She’d felt his full weight when she’d been pinned under him on the bed.
All of him, so powerful and hard.
All of her, so feminine and soft.
And when he’d put his hand between her legs…if she’d moved, just a little. Raised her hips. Opened her thighs. If she’d moved, and he’d moved…
“They’re behind us.”
Leanna peered out the back and saw a string of lights. Her heart lurched.
“Can’t we go faster?”
“I’ve already got my foot to the floor.”
“What can we do?”
“We need a diversion.”
“What diversion?”
“I’m trying to see what’s out there.”
“Sand is what’s out here,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant.
“I can make out the outline of something. Rocks. A hill. If I can send the goons behind us away from it, we might have a chance.”
Leanna clutched the knapsack closer. She could feel the outline of the gun. Maybe now was the time to tell him about it. Maybe she could trust him. Maybe…
Cam swung the Hummer swung hard to the right. “Open your door.”
“Open my door?”
“Isn’t that what I said?”
She stared at him, then did as he’d ordered.
“Good. Now take a deep breath and jump out.”
“Jump out?”
“Stop repeating everything, damn it. I’m going to slow down. The second I do, you jump. Try for some distance. Roll. Do it properly and you won’t get hurt.”
Her heart began to race. She’d figured him right. He was stone-cold. He’d decided to save himself by giving her to Asaad.
Leanna pulled the gun from the pack. It felt heavy as lead in her hand but she forced it up and aimed it squarely at him.
“Keep driving.”
He looked at her and did a double-take. “Where’d that come from?”
“Never mind.” Her voice was shaky. So was her hand. “I swear, I’ll shoot you unless you put your foot on the gas and get us out of here.”
“Salome.” Cam’s voice was low and very calm. “Give me the gun.”
“I’m going to count to three. You hear me? One. Two…”
“Look out!”
It was the oldest trick in the world but it worked. Leanna swung around to confront the supposed danger behind her. The Hummer swerved drunkenly as Cam grabbed her wrist and applied enough pressure to make her cry out.
&nbs
p; The gun tumbled from her suddenly nerveless fingers.
“No,” she yelled, “no, you son of a bitch! You can’t do this to—”
“Remember to roll,” he said, and shoved her out into the night.
Instantly he jerked the wheel hard to the left, increased his speed and looked in the mirror. As he’d hoped, the sultan’s men stayed right on his ass.
It was a trick he’d used before, but never with a woman.
He’d done the best he could. Slowed the car. Told Salome how to manage the fall. If she let instinct take over, she’d be okay.
That bit with the gun… He knew she’d found something, but a gun? He’d never figured on that. And then to pull it on him…
Cam took a last look in the mirror. If he drove too far, he’d never find her when he backtracked. It was tempting. Let her get out of this mess on her own…
A long incline was coming up. Just what he needed to make this work.
He eased his foot off the gas, waited until the Hummer was almost at the top of the incline. Then opened his door and dove out, landing shoulder-first, rolling as far as he could before he rose up in a crouch.
The Hummer was sailing down the far side of the slope, headed for points unknown. He flattened against the sand as the pursuit vehicles roared past, then winced as he got to his feet. His shoulder hurt but it would be no more than a bruise. Quickly he checked that the gun was still tucked into his waistband. Then he hoisted the pack over his arm and got moving.
All he had to do now was follow his tire tracks and find Salome.
Except, it wasn’t happening. Where the hell was she?
“Salome?”
Nothing. Only the increasing wail of the wind.
“Salome! Where are—”
She sprang on him out of the darkness, hissing and clawing like a tigress. The pack fell to the ground as she tried to rake his cheek; her knee would have connected with his groin if he hadn’t been fast enough.
“Hey! Take it easy! It’s me.”
All that earned him was a punch that slipped inside his upraised hands and bounced off his jaw before she danced away from him, then came at him again. Okay, he thought grimly, so be it.
She was quick but she didn’t know the first thing about fighting. He feinted left, knowing she’d follow. When she did, he caught her, wrapped her tightly in his arms and hoisted her off her feet.
“Damn it, woman, are you nuts?”
“I’m nuts, all right,” she panted, “for thinking you’d help me.”
He thought about telling her he’d never offered to help her but sanity prevailed. Now wasn’t the time for logic.
“Calm down!”
“Calm down? Calm down? You threw me out of a moving car!”
“I slowed to a crawl. If you’d jumped when I did, you’d probably have a couple of broken bones.”
“You wanted to get rid of me!”
“Then, why’d I come back to find you?”
“You didn’t. You just—you just stumbled across me.”
Cam snorted. “That can’t make sense, even to you.”
Leanna twisted against him. “Let go!”
“With pleasure. Just remember, you slug me again, I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Tie me up? Throw me over your shoulder? You already did all that, remember? What kind of man are you?”
Cam put her on her feet. “The kind who doesn’t have to put up with this crap,” he said with brutal candor. “You might want to keep that in mind.”
Leanna stared at him. Even in these ridiculous heels, he towered over her. She already knew how strong he was. Now, she knew that he’d do whatever it took to save himself from being captured.
Okay. And maybe to save her.
The wind caught at her hair and tossed it in her eyes. She lifted a shaking hand to push it away.
Had he really come back for her? It was possible. Okay, it was more than possible. Still, all she knew for sure was that he was a man who’d make love to a woman who begged him not to.
She had begged, hadn’t she? Begged him to stop. Of course she had. Those things she’d felt when he’d fondled her breasts, when he’d slipped his tongue into her mouth…
“You have a face like an open book, Salome.”
His voice was sexy and rough. Her eyes flashed to his. Did he know what she’d been thinking?
Leanna drew herself up. “In that case, you know that if you try any more tricks, I’ll—”
“What?” His eyes narrowed. “Stab me? Shoot me?” He cupped her shoulders, lifted her to her toes. “What other little toys have you got stashed?”
“Stashed?” She looked down at herself, the oversize shirt hanging open over her skimpy costume, and gave a harsh laugh. “You have to be kidding.”
“I ought to strip-search you.”
She felt heat rise in her face. “I told you, I haven’t got—”
“Yeah. So you say.” His gaze moved over her slowly, insolently, all but peeling the clothes from her body. “I’m going to pat you down, Salome. Just stand still, take it nice and easy and it’ll be over real quick.”
“No! I will not let you—” She caught her breath as he ran his hands down her arms. “Damn you, stop that! What do you think you’re—”
His hands slid under the shirt. Lifted to her breasts. His eyes locked to hers as he cupped them, feathered his fingers over the soft curves and over her nipples. His expression was coolly detached but she could see a tiny muscle beating high in his cheek.
To her horror, she felt her nipples tighten.
“Don’t,” she said, trying to grab his wrists. “You have no right…”
His hand slid over her belly.
Oh God! A quick, damp heat bloomed between her thighs.
“Stop it! I don’t—” Her voice shook. “I don’t have any hidden weapons.”
The hell she didn’t, Cam thought, and slipped his hand between her thighs and cupped her.
Her entire body went rigid. His already was. He could feel the heat of her burning his palm. Could a woman fake that? Could she tremble at a man’s touch unless she meant it? Could her body grow warm with desire unless she was eager for his possession?
This woman could. He had to keep that in mind.
“Just checking,” he said, his voice a lot cooler than his blood.
“Check again,” she said quietly, “and so help me, I’ll kill you.”
“Keep something important from me again, and you won’t be around long enough to try it.” He picked up the pack and slung it over his shoulder. “My odds would be lots better if I didn’t have you on my neck. Am I making myself clear?”
“Perfectly,” Leanna said bitterly, and brushed past him.
It was a pathetic show of pride, but she should have known he wouldn’t permit it. She’d only gone a couple of steps when he caught her arm.
“Those shoes.”
She looked down at her feet. No sane woman would have chosen stiletto sandals for a hike in the desert but then, no sane woman would have chosen this man as her guide.
“What about them?”
“Take them off.”
Her chin lifted. “Give me one good reason… Hey!”
A tug on her wrist and she was sitting on her rump. Cam knelt down and batted her hands away as he undid the straps of the sandals, snapped off the heels and handed the shoes back to her.
“Put them on and follow me. Every minute I have to stand around dealing with you is a minute wasted.”
The “thank you” that had been hovering on her lips died.
Jaw set, she fell in behind him.
Cam’s stride was long and he hadn’t shortened it for his unwanted companion.
The sooner she got up to speed, the better.
She was a burden he hadn’t asked for, but she was his responsibility now. That was part of the code he’d lived by most of his adult life, but he couldn’t think of any reason to tell her that. Let her worry about him abandoning her.
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br /> It might keep her from arguing so damned much.
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